Fence-tightening post



N. F. HOWARD FENCE TIGHTENIQNG POST Original Filed Jan.l9, i923 A TTOR/VE Y.

Patented July 1 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,635,416 PATEN T FFI E j 'NnLson runowann, oELA FAYETTE,I1\TDIANA.

- FENCE-TIGHTENING ros'r.

, Application filed January 19, 1923, Serial No.'613,573.- Renewed June '12; 1926.

This invention relates to the type of fence post that is designed for supporting and stretching or tightening wire fencing, especially at a corner or at an end of a line of fencing, the invention having reference more particularly to means for tightening the Wire fencing.

An object ofthe invention is to provide an:

improved fence-tightening post which shall be of such construction asfto' be conveniently and easily operated efficiently to tighten wire fencing, and which shall be fireproof and yet-not costly to manufacture and install. I

Another object is'to provide an improved metallic fence-tightening post that shall be of such construction as to be adapted to be firmly set upon the ground with advantage and economy to avoid excavations for the post. I V

' A' further object is to provide an improved inetallic fence-tightening post which shall have improved and reliable but inexpensive andpowerful fence-tightening means, which may be composed largely of regular stock material and simple castings. i a

. With the above-mentioned 'and'other objects in view, theinvention consists in an improved gear-set for tightening and automatically holding Wire fencing in stretched condition on posts, and in a novel metallic fence-post supporting the gear-set in a novel and advantageous manner; and further, the

invention consists in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and claimed. Referring to the drawings,-.Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved post and a single line of Wire fencing connected thereto; Fig; 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing details of the post structure on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a top'plan of the post; Fig.4 is a side viewof one of the parts of the Wire-tightening apparatus on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame part of the fence-tightening apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an inexpensive power device comprised in the fence-tightening apparatus.

In the several figures of the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding or like parts or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a portion of the earth or ground on which the arranged at improved post is arrangedupon suitable v constructed and has a base which preferably is composed of metallic side sills -5 and, 6 and an end .sill7, the side sills beingarranged upon the foundation slabs-andfextending'convergently each tothe other from the end sill. A base plate 8 is arranged upon the "side sills and secured thereto by means of devices 9, preferably bolts. Clhe base plate has a projection 10 fixed thereon to which ananchor rod 11 is connected that extends at an inclination into theiground in which it'lis suitably anchored. The base plate is provided "centrally: with a suitable socket-type journal bearing 12. The. frame of'the post comprises also two inclined anf gle-brace portions 131and14= that have feet 15 and 16 respectively which are'secureduponthe end sill 7 by means 'ofsuitable devices 17. and 18.-respectively,- such as bolts. The angle-base portions extend upwardly -andconvergently each to the other and the upper-ends thereof are provided respective' ly With horizontal arms 19 and 20 that are p a suitable distance above the baseplate.* w

The improved fence-tightening apparatus comprises va frame plate21 which is arranged upon thearms 19 and 20 and rigidly secured thereto by means of securing devices 22-and 23 extendingthrough the plateand the arm 19, and similar devices 24 and 25 extending through the plate and" the opposite arm 20. The plate 21has bosses 26 and 27 on'the top and bottom thereof and also a journal-bearing 28 extending through 1 the bosses and so asto be in alinement with the ournal bearing 12. The frame plate has also a bearing block 29 fixed on its top which has a journal bearing 30 therein, and the .vided with a journal 34 rotatably arranged in the bearing 30, and a journal 35 rotatably arranged in the bearing slot 32.- The journals may be portions of a shaft extending through and rigidly secured to the worm,

the journal portion extending "out beyond the blockiiil and being adapted to have acrank 36 connected thereto. A hollow winding-shaft 37 is rotatably arranged in the journal bearings "12 and 28 and extends upward beyond the frame plate 21a suitable distance. A supporting pin 38 is secured in the winding-shaft is sinpiported on the top of the journal bearing 12, and a retaining 391's secnred' in the wvincling-shai t -beneath tlieboss 27 on the bottom of the plate 21 A worm gear 40 is arranged on the winding-shaft immediately above bhle b'oss on the frame plate and it has an upward extending huh portion which a securing pin or riVetaQ -iserranged that extends tlrrongh the winding-shaft, the gear being in mesh with the worm 3"; The top oat the winding-shaft has suitable reap 4'3 thereon. a

1' The winding-shaft has a suitable number elf transverse lheles '44 therein in which horizoi-ntal fence Wires' l5 are secured below the frame p late 121,-ar'1d as many wires 4 6 :as may the desired above the worm gear l-0, some cases :a barbed wire 47 being likewise connectedto the "upper portionot the wind ng- 7 shaft. It will hennderstood that :another line 05E fence may-be :sirnilanly connected to the winding-shaft when the pestis reqn-med to he used as a corner "post.

In practical use, the post been properly located and anchored, and the wire I c ii encing :connected tothe winding-shaft, the

crank shaiit 36 is connected to the shat-t ot the worm 33 :and operated intlie proper direction to wind the fencing wines on the windin -shaft, the rotation of the. Worm causing the gear 40 to slowly rotate so as to turn the winding-shaft. WVh-en the fencing is sniiicientlytightened, the crank isremoved, the worm preventing backward movement of the :gearand the winding-sheik i The tightening openations may be easily and quickly repeatedain case the fencing :bec-onies slightly isleck. v i

Having thus described the linventiomwhat 1. A fence-tightening post V comprising .an end sill, two side sills rigidly connected to the end sill, a base plate rigidly secured to the side sills and having a journal bearing in its top, two inclined angle-brace members secured to the end sill and having horizon-' 'tal arms respectively on the upper ends the-Beetpositioned separately on one and the same plane materially above the base plate,

a top pilate rigidly secenedrnpon said arms and having two journal blocks fixed on the top thereof andv adjacent to the .snp'per ends of the inclined members,-the top plate haw ing also a journal bearing t'henein, :a peritorated winding-shafit-.notatwbly supported in said jon-rna-l bearings extending higher than the top plate, a gear wheel secured to the winding-shaft upon the top plate, r

"a power worm arranged hetweensaid ijonr-' tal arms on the tipper endsthereof, a .top

plate secured-upon the itoQ-ps of :said arms [and having two journal blocks fined ion the top thereof, one orfsaid iblocks being adjacent to one edge of said plate having aninclined slot bearing the top thereof, the remaining one of said blocks having a journal bearing therein,-a iperlE-orated windingshait rotatably supported in said base plate and in said top plate and extending higher than the top plate, a gear wheel secured "to the windirrgshatt vnpon said .top plate, and a power worm arranged between said blocks and having journal members .rotaitably arranged in the bearings therein, one 60f said jeurnal members extending out beyond said top plate edge, said worm being inrnkesh with said gear wheel to -,ro'tat-e thewhee l or to prevent rotation of the wheel.

in testimony whereof, I ail-1X my signature.

' NELSON :F. HOWARD.- 

